Appropriately, it has been ten years since I discovered Joy Division. Having read an appealing article about them in a newspaper, I took the risk and, during a school trip abroad, forked out whatever amount of francs in the Louvre’s music store for a copy of Unknown Pleasures, with its enigmatic yet enticing cover. Popping the CD in my player, I was suddenly immersed in a world never experienced before. Within the first few seconds of ’Disorder’, its steady but muted beat, robotic yet somehow human, the strange bass tune and spiky guitars, combined with dark and profound vocals, I knew Joy Division were something special. Most people know them by their song Love Will Tear Us Apart, which was abused in a Heinekan ad a few years ago. But the band were much more, an almost literary lyricism combined with a sound that felt entirely unique. It was a sound that lasted only briefly, for the lead singer, Ian Curtis, committed suicide at the age of 23.

Joy Division have been depicted twice in cinema already. Firstly, in 2002’s 24-Hour Party People, which was a playful biopic of pretentious broadcaster and music label owner Tony Wilson. Then, last saw a film about Curtis, called Control, which received much critical acclaim. And now, we see a seemingly definitive documentary on the band being released (briefly in UK cinemas, and then on DVD in the US in June), also called Joy Division.

Directed by Grant Gee, who has directed several music videos, as well as the Radiohead documentary Meeting People is Easy, the documentary conducts intimate interviews with most of the keys players in the band’s history. Band members, Bernard Sumner, Peter Hook, and Stephen Morris are all present. You’d think that after so many years of the band’s legacy, the remaining members would be tired of retelling the same stories. Yet there’s still times when the sadness breaks through. Read on »

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A few months back there were plenty of doubts about Iron Man. The comic book character, a rich industrialist who designed a supersuit to fight crime, is not one of Marvel’s most defining characters. And many doubted the talents of director Jon Favreau, who has only directed kid-oriented fluff such as Elf and Zathura, and lead actor Robert Downey Jnr, who has had more relapses than hit movies. Yet slowly but surely, the film began to pick up momentum, and this weekend, its first, has seen it earning $200 million worldwide. Reviews have been kind, so is Iron Man a worthy first blockbuster of 2008?

The film traces the origins of Iron Man. Tony Stark, designer of advanced weapons of mass destruction, is kidnapped in Afghanistan by terrorists, and forced to build weapons for them. Instead, he invents a clunky suit to escape, after a fellow prisoner, Yinsen, manages to show him the consequences of his missile designs. After escaping, Stark decides to work for peace instead, but faces resistance by his business partner Obadiah Stane (Jeff Bridges), who has plans to steal Downey’s iron man design.

There are two reasons why Iron Man works as a film. Read on »

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Here is an excellent review of “What Happens in Vegas” starring Cameron Diaz and Ashton Kutcher by Variety’s Joe Leydon.

“Some trend-conscious wags won’t be able to resist describing “Vegas” as Judd Apatow Lite, since it’s about a self-involved slacker who becomes more directed and/or responsible as a result of his relationship with a more mature woman. But, really, that set-up already had whiskers long before Apatow became a brand name.

“In fact, the roots of this new pic can be traced back to screwball comedies of the ’30s and ’40s. The big difference — well, OK, one of several big differences — between “Vegas” and those fast-paced comedy classics is that “Vegas” actually becomes more enjoyable as it tamps down the over-the-top helter-skelter of its early scenes”

There is nothing like seeing a good old-fashioned, trendy comedy.

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It seems that in the world of cinema, all roads do lead to the US. Even in China, with a self-sustainable film industry and an audience base of over one billion, many of its directors immigrate. One of the best examples is Ang Lee, who after the success of Eat Drink Man Woman went on to make Sense and Sensibility, the Ice Storm, and eventually win an Oscar for Brokeback Mountain. Another example is the lesser -known but equally-talented Wong Kar Wai, who made the touching drama Chungking Express and the beautiful and atmospheric In the Mood for Love. And following suit, this week sees the release of Wong Kar Wai’s first English-language film, My Blueberry Nights.

The film attempts to embrace one of the US’s most typical genres: the road movie. Elizabeth (Norah Jones. Yes, that one) attempts to exorcise the ghosts of her last relationship by going on a journey of self discovery. Starting in New York, as she discusses her past with a lonely café-owner (Jude Law), her journeys have her encounter a cop who resorts to alcoholism to block out his ex-wife, and a gambling addict with a miserable history of her own.

If this doesn’t sound particularly interesting, that’s because it isn’t. Of course, Wong Kar-Wai’s films never sound like much on paper. Read on »

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I watched Quantum Hoops with my father-in-law, who is a former high school coach and referee of basketball.  He and I enjoy this documentary that is narrated by David Duchovny.   Usually we watch movies about sport teams that won. Or, race horses that overcame unbeatable odds and won.  Yet, Quantum Hoops is about CalTech basketball team that hasn’t won a game in two decades, a 21-year losing streak.  To the casual fan, the team might sound like a bad joke.  There are more valedictorians on the team than players with high school basketball experience.  In fact, the 5 seniors did not play high school basketball, yet all five are major contributors to the team.  They are roundly mocked by opposing fans as “nerds playing basketball” (the few fans that decide its even worth it to show up).  However, this season would mark an amazing turnaround from just two years ago when the team would lose by an average margin of over 60 points per game.  Against remarkable odds and adversity, the players and coaches dedication, discipline, heart, and yes, SKILL would make for one of the most exciting seasons in school history.   The final home game of the year would give the 5 seniors one last shot at that elusive win and an entry into the history books of college athletics.The documentary flows very smooth keeping my father-in-law interested in whether the school will ever have a win.     

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I watched the movie “Awake” over the weekend not sure if I was going to like the film.  As I watched the film and the story unraveled, I became absorbed in what was happening to the main character (Hayden Christensen of “Star Wars”).  The film is worth seeing with a list of impressive actors: Terrence Howard, Lena Olin, Jessica Alba, Christopher McDonald, Fisher Stevens and Arliss Howard.

The film has twists and turns but brings an interesting circumstance to the audience.  I am surprise “Awake” didn’t get the full attention it deserves at the movie theaters.  It’s worth an evening rental and more.

So, I have a copy to giveaway.  Just post your name and I will draw the winner this week.  It’s worth it movie fans!!

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Last weekend I popped “Dedication” into my laptop, a movie billed as an original romance starring Mandy Moore (”A Walk to Remember”), Billy Crudup (”Almost Famous”), Academy Award Nominee 2007, Tom Wilkinson and Oscar winner Dianne Wiest.

As I have posted before, I don’t consider myself a reviewer, but rather I let you know about the movie.  Plus, I am giving away “Dedication.”  Details are below.

“Dedication” has some endearing and painful laughs that come from the heart.

If you don’t understand Plato’s theory about irrational behavior of artists, which I think is bunk, you might have a hard time understanding the story and Crudup’s character.

Mandy Moore is sensational as is the rest of the cast.

I am so happy that the filmmaker avoided the cliche of quickly explaining character flaws by falsely labeling their condition as psychiatrists so often do.

Many memorable and touching scenes keep coming back to mind.  Crudup and Wilkinson are great together as is adorable Moore and Crudup together. Wiest is exceptional too. 

It’s an intelligent movie with laughs, but you need to pay attention in order to understand the wit.

Enough said. Now, it is giveaway time.  You can post your name, and I will enter it in the pool for the drawing.  Whoever wins receives the DVD that I viewed this last weekend. Good luck.

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Newly released on DVD are two films by young, independent filmmaker, Aaron Katz.   This is true indie, not the so-called independent films backed by the big studios.  Quiet City in fact is up for the John Cassavetes Award at the Independent Spirit Awards to be given out on February 23. Both films seem more improvised than they actually are, and are intimate stories about young people, part of the genre known as “mumblecore”. Quiet City, which had a theatrical run last September, is about a young woman, Jamie, who flies from Atlanta to meet a friend in Brooklyn. Asking directions of Charlie, a young man in the subway station, the two end up spending a couple of days together when Jamie’s friend doesn’t appear. The two gradually get acquainted, culminating in their going to the art gallery opening of Jamie’s high school friend Robin. There is no high drama, no action set pieces, but the film is engaging in its casual observation of how people interact. Read on »

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The Brave One is somewhat difficult to discuss. Jodie Foster, as usual, does an excellent, measured performance. As for director Neil Jordan, his work-for-hire is never as good as his more personal films like The Crying Game or Mona Lisa. Still, The Brave One is, for me a more watchable film than The Good Thief, a weak remake of the eternally hip French classic Bob le Flambeur.The film is about a woman, a spoken word radio artist, who survives the mugging that left her fiance dead. Uncertain about the prospects of random violence in her life, she buys a gun, theoretically for self-protection. Foster finds herself in a couple of situations where she uses the gun in self defense. It is after these incidences that Foster finds herself actually looking for trouble. The film explores Foster’s moral conundrum to a certain extent, yet seems to weasel out of some uneasy questions about law and ethics. Read on »

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A terrific film that premiered at Sundance last year is finally getting a release in select art and indie theaters this week. I happened to see Teeth last November at the Denver International Film Festival last November, and understand why this very funny horror comedy scared away the major distributors. Some of the best gags in this film are at the expense of the male characters, and are gross, graphic and just plain hilarious.The film is about a young woman who has an abnormality. The cause is not explained, but the huge, industrial smoke behind the town gives an indirect clue.What could have been a one joke film about “vagina dentata” is, in the hands of writer-director Mitchell Lichtenstein, a satirical look at teenage peer pressure and sexuality, and finally, female empowerment. Much of the credit for the film should go to Jess Weixler as Dawn, the girl who finds her particular mutation to be troubling and frightening, only to find that what may be her biggest weakness is also her source of strength.  John Hensley, best known as the troubled son on cables’ “Nip/Tuck” portrays the punk “brother”.   The official website lists the cities where Teeth is currently playing. And guys, if you’re brave enough to see this film, just remember, this may not be the film you want to see on a date.

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